Pura Vall

Pura Vall is an incoming travel agency based in Ribes de Freser, in the Ripollès. Its company name is Agencia de Viajes Pura Vall, S.L. and its office is at calle Puigcerdà, 4. It designs experiences in the Vall de Ribes, the Vall de Núria and the rest of the Ripollès, from guided mountain activities to gastronomic getaways and retreats. The website does not give the year of foundation or the names of its partners, and does not publish an agency licence number either.

How it works

The agency presents itself as a new way of understanding tourism, based on trust, respect and honesty, and committed to sustainability, collaboration with businesses in the valley, heritage conservation and the fight against depopulation. In practice it works by quotation: it does not publish fixed prices, but adapts each proposal to the type of experience and the size of the group. It works with families, groups, solo travellers, schools and companies, for which it organises meetings, team building, training and incentive trips.

What it offers and when

In the mountains, it guides the Roca de la Creu via ferrata, on volcanic rock, introductory canyoning in the Gorges del Freser, hiking routes in the Pyrenees adapted to each person, wildlife watching around Toses, horse rides and walks to discover the wild orchids of the Vall de Ribes, where according to the agency more than forty species grow. In autumn it offers mushroom-hunting outings combined with local cooking. In winter, introductions to snowshoeing and skiing and a ride in a snow groomer to see how the pistes are prepared.

The other half of the offering is cultural and gastronomic: routes through the Romanesque art and castles of the Ripollès, trips that combine historic trains, Gaudí architecture and mountain cooking, a gourmet day with craft beer, cheeses, ratafia and honey, a route through starred restaurants in Girona, ceramics workshops and retreats of several days in nature. It announces a balloon flight, a night sleeping in the trees and photography outings as coming soon.

Groups, equipment and meeting point

For canyoning, the outing lasts about four hours from Ribes de Freser, in spring, summer and autumn. It can be done alone or in groups of up to six people per guide; larger groups are organised with more than one guide. It includes a qualified guide, full equipment and insurance. You must bring boots or trainers that can get wet, a swimsuit, a towel and a change of footwear, and provide your weight, height and foot size beforehand so the wetsuit can be prepared. The via ferrata is done with a mountain technician, who also provides the harness, energy absorbers and helmet. For the other proposals the website does not give ages or group sizes: ask in each case.

Booking and languages

You request a quote with the contact form on their website, by phone (685 940 375 or 685 940 370) or at [email protected]. The website does not publish cancellation conditions, so it is worth asking for them in writing with the quote. It is in Catalan, Spanish, English, French and German, although it does not say in which languages each activity is guided.

For the climb up the Roca de la Creu, see the listing for the Roca de la Creu via ferrata.